Record number of scouts scoop award

Members of eXu Explorer Scout Unit during their expedition in the Lake District

Mike Russell

Published:08:30Monday 07 May 2012

A RECORD number of Sheffield scouts have achieved the movement’s highest honour year - the Queen’s Scout Award.

A group of 15 young people met Her Majesty and Chief Scout Bear Grylls at a ceremony at Windsor Castle.

A further 12 scouts from South Yorkshire also received the prestigious award.

The Sheffield contingent, all members of the eXu Explorer Scout Unit, included the first Queen’s Scout from High Green for 60 years, and the first from Shiregreen for 35.

It’s a boom time for scouting with more than 525,000 across the country - and teenage members up by 12 per cent in 2011.

The Queen’s Scout Award is the highest honour awarded for outstanding personal achievement.

It is achieved by young people aged 16 to 25 who have completed a range of challenges, which include service to their community, taking on an expedition in wild country, a five day residential project in an unfamiliar environment and learning a new skill or developing an existing talent.

Daniel Levick, aged 24, of Shiregreen, said: “Working towards my Queen’s Scout Award has been a big challenge. It gave me the opportunity to discover new adventures and make new friends.

“Balancing all the aspects of the award with other commitments and work has been a challenge but extremely exhilarating and rewarding.”

Dave Cattell, 20, of Ecclesall, added: “The expedition I completed in the Lake District was the most challenging aspect of the award.

“The team work required to carry out a successful expedition is huge, but the reward when you get to the finishing point is the knowledge that everyone pulled together to overcome difficulties..”

Louise Boddie, 19, of Ecclesall said the parade at Windsor was a fantastic occasion.

“It was also an opportunity to remember all the wonderful experiences and to be recognised for all I’ve achieved through scouting,” she added.